Registered Nurse - Arohata Prison

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 77,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) is seeking registered nurses to provide primary health care in prison health centres in Wellington. Roles emphasize diverse clinical practice, mental health care, and emergency response, with a focus on culturally competent care for Māori, whānau and iwi.

The successful candidate will hold Nursing Council of NZ registration and an Annual Practising Certificate, with CPR certification preferred.

Qualifications

• Must hold registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate.
• Foundation in strong cultural competence, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with experience working with Māori, whānau and iwi.
• Preference for candidates with New Zealand qualifications and current registration; experience in NZ healthcare system.
• Ideally CPR certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary health care services in prison health centres.
• Assess and manage health needs, including physical and mental health, substance use, health education.
• Respond to emergencies and deliver acute care.
• Support diverse clinical practice areas within the facility.

Skills

Emergency response

Cultural competence

Triage

Lifelong learning

Non-judgmental approach

Māori health equity

Education

Nursing Council NZ registration

Annual Practising Certificate

CPR certification

Job description

• Enjoy genuine work-life balance, diverse practice, and career growth
• Develop skills in various health areas, from mental health to emergencies
• Join us at Arohata Women's Prison in Tawa, Wellington Mō te tūnga

About the role

Our Nurses benefit from a genuine work-life balance, avoiding night shift work while engaging in a diverse range of practice settings. They operate in an environment that not only supports them but also provides professional career opportunities. If you are seeking a rewarding and challenging work environment, possess adaptable clinical skills, and demonstrate strong organisational and communication abilities, a career in nursing at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) might be the right fit.

Working in our prison health centres presents nurses with unique opportunities to develop and apply their skills across a broad spectrum of clinical areas. Daily responsibilities involve providing a comprehensive range of primary health care services, assessing and managing individuals with various health needs, including physical and mental health, substance abuse, health education, and responding to emergencies while offering acute care.

About you

• At least three years of recent clinical experience in either primary or secondary health care nursing– accident and medical, ED, general medical or surgical and acute mental health clinical practice experience would be highly valued.
• A diverse range of post-graduate clinical exposure.
• A demonstrated commitment to Māori health and equity.
• The ability to assess and respond effectively to emergency situations.
• A strong motivation to continue learning and advancing professionally.
• A non-judgmental approach.
• Experience in triage, which is considered desirable for these roles.

As the successful candidate, you will hold registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate. Your role requires a foundation in strong cultural competence, encompassing an understanding of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application, along with cultural knowledge and experience in working with and for Māori, whānau, and iwi. Experience, qualifications, and registration in New Zealand is required. Preference will be given to candidates who have proven experience working within the New Zealand healthcare system, hold relevant New Zealand qualifications, and are currently registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies. This will ensure a smoother integration into our workforce and a deeper understanding of the local context and standards of care. You should ideally have current CPR certification. If you meet these criteria, contributing to the healthcare environment.

The benefits

The full salary range is $77,289 - $108,874 per annum. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Pae Ora leads the delivery of patient-focused primary health and mental health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa. Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy. We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required. You can find out more about us here.

Please note due to Christmas and New Years shut down periods, the start date for this role is early 2027.

We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.

Applications Close : Wednesday, 18th November